Beautiful, complex artwork with creative layouts. Sometimes confusing layouts, but that seems intentional and works well with the story. There are manBeautiful, complex artwork with creative layouts. Sometimes confusing layouts, but that seems intentional and works well with the story. There are many two-page spreads (and a few fold-outs), and those are hard to appreciate properly in the hard-cover edition where the book will not lay flat.

The story contains interesting characters and situations, but is frequently nonsensical. Much like the "wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey" aspects of some Doctor Who stories, we are asked to just accept many things as if they make sense. While I can accept that on some level, it isn't really the kind of story I most enjoy so it is really mainly the art that keeps this book interesting for me....more

Parody of sickly-sweet Saturday morning cartoons of my youth. I love this! It seems to have escaped the notice of the rest of the world, though, whichParody of sickly-sweet Saturday morning cartoons of my youth. I love this! It seems to have escaped the notice of the rest of the world, though, which is sad. Maybe just because it is black-and-white and not on a major publisher. Anyone who enjoys I Hate Fairyland Vol. 1 or Kaptara, Vol. 1: Fear Not, Tiny Alien should enjoy this as well.

It is available on Comixology, if you can't find a physical copy....more

All 4 volumes tell one single story which I read straight through (in the English translation), so I'll comment on the whole thing at once. (No spoileAll 4 volumes tell one single story which I read straight through (in the English translation), so I'll comment on the whole thing at once. (No spoilers).

The artwork is very clear and beautiful. The drawings of the future city and it's inhabitants are quite nice, and who wouldn't like a cigar-smoking robot ape. But the real stunner for me is the freaky, hallucinatory landscapes and creatures on the strange planet. The creatures are truly alien-looking and imaginative, reminding me of the animated French films Fantastic Planet and Time Masters. (This aspect is most pronounced in volumes 2 and 3.)

The story is told in multiple levels of flashbacks, and even in dreams. And yet it was easy to follow which time period you were in at all times. That was masterful. That doesn't mean I understood everything. I don't think you are supposed to.

In interviews, the author/artist cites as top inspirations Ray Bradbury and Stanislaw Lem, and those influences seem clear. As in their work, the story takes precedence over issues of absolute scientific plausibility. I will never be able to accept the plausibility of microscopic machines that can manipulate reality at a molecular level, at least not to the extent displayed here.

The final volume was a bit disappointing to me. It does tie the story together in a logical way -- though I had to re-read volumes 1 to 3 to see that -- but it was just a bit more of an action story, almost a superhero story, than the rest, and felt like a let-down.

I very much look forward to reading more from this author/artist....more

There are three stories in "Volume 1": "The Morningstar Option", "A Six Card Spread" and "Born with the DEAD". Confusingly, there is also "Lucifer, BoThere are three stories in "Volume 1": "The Morningstar Option", "A Six Card Spread" and "Born with the DEAD". Confusingly, there is also "Lucifer, Book 1" which contains these as well as additional stories.

I read this as part of a book discussion group. Almost everyone in the group preferred the third story. That was mainly because it is a short, self-contained story with a human protagonist that we could relate to. In the other stories, when Lucifer is the main character, it is hard to understand his motivations, and since we can be sure he will always win, it is hard to care much. And those first two stories seem to be largely just setting-up later stories.

I personally felt like the first story in particular, but all of them really, contain just too much stuff. There are bits of multiple mythologies thrown together into a stew. I'd like more focus on telling a story using bits of one or two mythologies....more

This is a set of loosely-connected essays revolving in some way around work, or products of modern technology. I had been hoping for something a littlThis is a set of loosely-connected essays revolving in some way around work, or products of modern technology. I had been hoping for something a little deeper and more probing, perhaps into the idea of how to find purpose in work. That's not really what this is. But it succeeds in being thoughtful and witty digressions which work as entertainment.

I got once again, as from other books on diverse subjects, a feeling of awe at how much time, effort, though, and man-power go into making the many little (and big) things that we take for granted, such as container ships, electrical pylons, cookies, and how many people all over the world are involved in activities which are interconnected in ways that are beyond their own, or anyone's, full understanding. We look in awe on ruins of ancient civilizations, but we should also look in awe at modern roadways or supermarkets or conference centers. It takes a good writer to make that possible for me, and de Botton succeeds in that here, at least in some passages....more

The words I write here will provide 'content' to a website owned by a major corporation based in SF. They may put advertisements next to it. They mayThe words I write here will provide 'content' to a website owned by a major corporation based in SF. They may put advertisements next to it. They may use my words to promote the book. They will use my rating and browsing history to influence which ads they show me. And... I'm ok with that.

Other popular 'social media' websites are the same. While these companies say that they are giving voices to the powerless and improving democracy, etc, the real driving force is still making money off of advertising. The content provided by all of us, in bulk, makes a few people richer, and our use of the products fuels that money transfer. It doesn't matter whether we are talking about fostering positive change, grieving over a tragedy, spreading rumors and hate speech, insulting each other or making threats in comments sections. All the content gets served-up with a side of advertising.

These issues are the major themes of this 'novel'. Other themes include how internet companies and their employees have contributed to significant changes in San Francisco, making it increasingly hard to survive there if you are not rich.

It isn't a very good 'novel'; it even says so itself! It is basically an extended comedic rant with characters and plot thrown in to support the rant. But it is, at most times, quite funny. Especially if, like me, you are have witnessed the changes in SF over the last two decades.

So, hey, I use social media; I work in tech; I use an iPad. There is good in all these things. This novel focuses mostly on the dark sides, but it can really make you laugh, and think, while doing so.

BTW: this book appeared in my mailbox totally unexpectedly. Apparently somebody thought it was my birthday [it isn't] and that I'd like this [I do]....more

Some beautiful language and interesting ideas, but ultimately just too complicated for me. I didn't fully understand it just on the level of plot, andSome beautiful language and interesting ideas, but ultimately just too complicated for me. I didn't fully understand it just on the level of plot, and I certainly didn't catch all the references to mythology. I still look forward to reading more from Valente....more

Fascinating story of the development of musical notation systems in Europe. Modern notation is based on these systems and it is interesting to see wheFascinating story of the development of musical notation systems in Europe. Modern notation is based on these systems and it is interesting to see where the ideas came from and how they spread, sometimes after initial resistance.

The images of medieval manuscripts are quite lovely, but I'm very glad I don't have to try to interpret them. The systems seem ridiculously complex compared to modern systems, especially for rhythm.

The title is misleading. The book does not really tell the full "story of notation", but rather the story of notation in Europe in the medieval period. I would have liked at least a little information on notation systems from other cultures. And I would have loved more information on how the medieval system grew into the modern system, and at least some discussion on modern alternative proposals. It just basically stops right before the era of Bach. It would be interesting to continue the story to include things like "figured bass" in the baroque era, guitar tablature, and how key signatures and accidentals allow notating 12 tones on a staff system which had been designed for representing modal music with 7 tones per octave. (But in a clumsy way, due for an overhaul in my opinion.)

Despite the fact that I would like to read a more full "story of notation", if I imagine the title of this book as "the story of medieval European notation" then it does a very good job of covering the material in an interesting way with attractive illustrations....more